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Original poster

Do you use the library?

95 replies

LegendaryReady · 08/09/2021 08:35

I've always been a big fan. I went weekly throughout my childhood and then did the same with my DC. Both my DC pulled up to standing for the first time using the wooden boxes the library has the tot's books in Smile

However, even I got sucked in by the Kindle and haven't used the library since I stopped taking DC. I also became disappointed at the increasingly limited range of books at my local library, I suppose as they faced reducing demand.

The Kindle makes sense in that it's light, small, if I fall asleep I don't lose my page! But it is somehow less satisfying than using an actual book and the cost of all those just a few pounds purchases does add up, compared to a free library service.

I've recently rediscovered it and it's like having a free Amazon account! You can order books from any library, anywhere, place them on hold and when they're available, they're delivered to the local library for collection. All free. Maybe it's just me who didn't know, but how good it that?

When I see book recommendations, I add them to my hold list and the vast majority turn up within days. You get three weeks and can renew online if you need longer.

Anyway a revelation for me, every book in print available for free and east too. Use it or lose it though.

OP posts:
drspouse · 08/09/2021 11:12

You can convert other e-books to Kindle. I didn't tell you that.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 08/09/2021 11:25

Use it or lose it!

It's also a great resource for people on average incomes - it makes me read more widely and take a chance on a new writer or new topic. I am currently working my way through the natural sciences shelf. I have loved 2 and given up on 3 recently - would I risk fifty quid to find this out? Nope. So then I would stick with a safe author or the best seller. This reduces the number of books who make it into print too.

Basically, we all benefit - please use your library!

KeflavikAirport · 08/09/2021 11:25

I love libraries. One of the last great bastions of social equality and more environmentally friendly than book buying.

Interested in this thread?

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Children's books
hoorayforharoldlloyd · 08/09/2021 11:27

Also have now started requesting they get copies of books I want to read - I usually go for odd or slightly more expensive non fiction that I might not take the risk on. It's a thrill when they email me to say it's in to pick up. At the moment am waiting on botanical fairy tales and a book on octupus intelligence. Loved a recent rockpool one so much I'm now going to buy it.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 08/09/2021 11:28

I use my local library to reserve books a lot, just like OP describes. It's great getting an email to say that your latest choice has come in, I then drop in next time I'm passing the library to pick up.

In fact I have more books on my tbr pile at the mo than I can cope with. Better get off MN and go and read a book 😁

crystalspiders · 08/09/2021 11:38

@hoorayforharoldlloyd

Also have now started requesting they get copies of books I want to read - I usually go for odd or slightly more expensive non fiction that I might not take the risk on. It's a thrill when they email me to say it's in to pick up. At the moment am waiting on botanical fairy tales and a book on octupus intelligence. Loved a recent rockpool one so much I'm now going to buy it.
The botanical fairy tales book sounds amazing!
crystalspiders · 08/09/2021 11:39

We try to go at least once a week. I’m home educating the DC-currently only nursery age-and I find it a brilliant chance for them to get some learning in without really realising.

Notebooksarefabulous · 08/09/2021 11:43

"You can order books from any library, anywhere, place them on hold and when they're available, they're delivered to the local library for collection. All free"
Thats not the case in any of the five counties Ive lived in! Wish it was.

We are huge library fans here. Always have been. My kiddos are older teens now but we are all still regular library visitors.

MatildaIThink · 08/09/2021 11:47

We use the library, we go 2-3 times a month with our children and they love choosing books to take home. The kids have loved some so much we ended up buying some so we could keep them. A few local businesses regularly donate new books to the local library, but the building and staff are all council funded.

NotMyCat · 08/09/2021 11:49

Yeo most weeks. I read a book a day usually so I can't afford to buy them!

TheDistortion · 08/09/2021 11:58

I was inspired to look at my hold list and I have two books waiting for me that I haven't had the email about yet, so I shall pop down there shortly!
On my hold list at the moment I have Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd Robinson (historical crime), The Royal Secret and The American Boy by Andrew Taylor (historical crime), a book about how not to procrastinate (ironic as that is what I am doing right now), The Easternmost House by Juliet Blaxland (about living on a cliff near Southwold), a Dr Who memoir and two books in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse series (young adult fantasy). I wouldn't buy any of them probably, but am looking forward to reading them all.

WhiskeyNeverStartsToTasteNice · 08/09/2021 12:02

Yes, around 90% of books DP and I read are from the library and have been for many years. Always have several on request list. I buy more books for DD but she borrows some from library too.

FuzzyPenguin · 08/09/2021 12:08

I don’t use it for myself but I take my DS7 and he loves it and at the rate he goes through books it saves me loads of money.
The schools encourage use of library with joining in with the reading challenge and the school who wins get a trophy. Our school massively pushes it cause we have won the last 11 years they want to keep it.

YouJustDoYou · 08/09/2021 12:27

We have to pay for book reservations, but apart from that, yes - went back to using the library a few years ago after my then 5 year old said he "was sad I was always on my iPad" (it was my beloved Kindle), thats when I realised they just weren't used to seeing me read an actual book.

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 08/09/2021 12:48

@LegendaryReady yes sorry, I didn't mean Kindle books, it's an app called BorrowBox but as I have it on my kindle I always just think of them as Kindle books!

Reading this thread is making me feel so nostalgic for when my DC were little and we used to go to the library all the time. I also loved re-reading my favourite childhood books to them, eg The Worst Witch and The Faraway Tree and The Chalet School books etc etc...

(Another thing I like about kindles (for books that's aren't available from the library) is the free downloads of samples so you can have a look at the book before you buy.

emmathedilemma · 08/09/2021 12:53

I've been in a library twice since i left uni - once to do some work between meetings and a hospital appointment when I didn't have time to go home and back, and once with my nephews to change their books. I've just looked at my local library times and honestly don't know how I would ever use it as they have really short hours (2-5pm, 10-2 sort of times) and are only open when I'm at work or Saturday I might sometimes be able to catch them before they close. I guess it's a vicious circle of they won't open if people don't use them but people can't use them if they're only open short hours.....

Farfalle88 · 08/09/2021 12:56

@YouJustDoYou

We have to pay for book reservations, but apart from that, yes - went back to using the library a few years ago after my then 5 year old said he "was sad I was always on my iPad" (it was my beloved Kindle), thats when I realised they just weren't used to seeing me read an actual book.
It is usually free to reserve books yourself using the online system rather than asking a Librarian.
TheDistortion · 08/09/2021 13:03

@emmathedilemma

I've been in a library twice since i left uni - once to do some work between meetings and a hospital appointment when I didn't have time to go home and back, and once with my nephews to change their books. I've just looked at my local library times and honestly don't know how I would ever use it as they have really short hours (2-5pm, 10-2 sort of times) and are only open when I'm at work or Saturday I might sometimes be able to catch them before they close. I guess it's a vicious circle of they won't open if people don't use them but people can't use them if they're only open short hours.....
I used to use the library near work rather than the one near home, and go at lunch times, when I lived in London, because the one nearest me (literally opposite my house) was never open when I was at home. But you might not have one near work!
FlowerArranger · 08/09/2021 13:05

I love libraries! Unfortunately our local council is Tory and has cut services to the bone. Several branches closed and it seems practically no new books being bought. It costs a pound to reserve a single book... The last few times I went I couldn't find anything I wanted. Judging by the fact that the place was almost empty, I assume a lot of people have stopped going, and I expect I shall as well. Very sad.

drspouse · 08/09/2021 13:10

Ours has decided to reopen some of the libraries - I am nearest one that has decent opening hours but I am more inclined to go when I have a reservation to pick up, to be honest.

RightYesButNo · 08/09/2021 13:18

A lot of libraries have ebook borrowing apps that do have Kindle books - you borrow it right through Kindle. The app is called Overdrive; I know London Library have it, for example. You can choose whether to search for Kindle books or non-Kindle ebooks and as others have said it’s veeeeery easy now to convert a regular ebook to kindle (used to be much more of a faff). I belong to a library that has loads of options and I’ve saved TONS of money renting Kindle ebooks that would have been £8.99 on Amazon.

Snozwanger · 08/09/2021 13:19

I've started taking my children during the holidays as it was getting quite expensive buying chapter books for my seven year old, even second hand at the rate he reads them. I suddenly remembered you can order books in so have chosen some of a series DS lives which is great.
I'd recently been recommended the Caroline Hirons skin care book which is £10 to buy but did a search with the library and found it available! Cant believe I didn't think of it before.
A tip is to order the books on your kids account as you don't have to pay the 80p to order. You also get more leeway with fines if your borrowing goes over ;)

Gothichouse40 · 08/09/2021 13:20

Yes, always.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 08/09/2021 13:21

I used to use the library a lot more than I do now. I have been sucked into kindle, I can have the books immediately (and if I subscribe to Kindle unlimited, many are "free".

We have to pay for reservations and for books to come from other libraries.

There was a book I wanted for work (personal development rather than a work work item) and there was only one in the county. I used to borrow it and then another lady would reserve it, so I couldn't renew it. It went backwards and forwards but in the end I had to give up and buy it because the other lady just paid the fines and kept it :( They should have bought a second copy in my view.

JustLyra · 08/09/2021 13:27

I don’t as I don’t want to encounter the woman who works there (my school bully who, despite being asked not to, insisted on trying to be chatty and friendly when I went in), but MIL takes my younger children once a week.

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